THIEF-PROOF DEVICES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 11

THIEF-PROOF DEVICES.

COMBINATION LOCKS

Combination locks of both letter and figure types, have been applied to var- t ions parts of some modern cars, but < the general intention of them lias been t to lock the steering or the gears, or to i cut off the ignition. The latest access- ) «ory of this (-lass is a combination lock used on the dashboard to disconnect the 1 current from the sell-starter. Ibe de- > vice sells at 27s (id in England. 'I he so- i eunty oi suoli u lock seems very limited. A thief equipped with some stout copper wire and a pocket, knife could soon, remove the insulation from the locks to the switch and so bridge the gap. further the vendors of the swileh appear to take it for granted that the motorist . can conceal the. starting handle beyond, discovery bv prying hands. There" is perhaps more merit in anoilier patent iust introduced m Fngland This switch lock cuts oil both Jgn>*ion and petrol The letter combination is capable of 1:1,821 settings—a .ask for which no thief would have -... time or patience. This device is priced ■ at £3 10s, and the sum does not include fitting. , . , , • 'Hie market for these devices lias been entirely created by the failure or so many British car manufacturers to oiler more than the doubtful protection ol the common ignitionswiieh. It is a. pity that thousands of motorists should annual lv spend from £1 to £d each on nttiim ' “gadget” locks, when built-in goal’ locks could be standardised at a cost of not more than £l. ai car. . \ eit little alteration to gear box castings is ■ required to enable built-in locks to be fitted, but vear after year cars m the ' low and moderate price classes appear 1 without, the necessary safeguard. ; Credit must lie given to American cai ’ designers for the standardisation ot reaJ- ; ]v efficient locking devices.. Second to r +i lc gear lock in reliability is the builti in steering column lock now appearing

on several American cars. It has t.ic great advantage of convenience, for i closed cur, a door lock is ideal. I>' American motor thief has resource to a <dass cutter when a sedan type car is the object of his attentions and this explains why some American cars have two or three locks operated by the same kev. Experience lias shown that when different keys are necessary for ; the gear, steering, and door locks, the owner drifts into the habit of relying on the door only. ‘ An effective, cheap, although somewhat clumsy method of locking can be put into operation on gate change British ears. It will usuallv lie Immd Lmt one of the lugs of the gate can bo drilled to admit a common padlock 1 lie Hole should, be bored so that the lever is kept in either low gear reverse. There are also occasions wuen a padlock can he applied to the clutch m'dal shank, bv drilling a hole in the floor board level, so that the clutch cannot be pushed down when the lock is in Serene in this immunity from the expert motor thief, the New ■ Zcahuul motorist would not be particulai 1> attiac ed by the locking system applied reco tlv to a well-known I< reach car. In' thr the steering column lock prevents use ol the wheel, and at th.e same time tin off the petrol, the ignition, the staiLi and the lights.